Monthly Archives: July 2012

Otterocity? This is a term I never heard before I met author Tim Northburg. Tim is an author and fellow member of Northern Colorado Writers.

Actually, the new word was created for Tim’s latest novel. (See below)

Below is what time has to say about otterocity:

OTTEROCITY: (Otter + ocity) You can’t find it in a dictionary but its meaning is a mixture of things. If you take velocity times electricity, and mix it with generosity and creativity, then infuse that to a joyful spirit, you get Otterocity. Taken literally, ocity means “quality of.” Therefore, Otterocity is having or displaying a disposition or quality of an otter. However, Otterocity is more than a play on words. Otterocity is a way of acting, thinking, and being that brings balance to your life and focuses your energy in a positive way to help you become a better person. Otterocity is all about showing or possessing the qualities of otters, to bring a joyful spirit to your life, in everything you do.

Parallel has always been a fun word for me. I always wondered why the put the double l in the middle of the world.

Parallax is a related almost opposite) word that ha the same double l .

Must people know the definition of parallel but here it is again. Basically, if two lines are parallel, they are equal distance apart everywhere. They run side-by-side and never intersect.

Parallax is a bit more complicated. In general, it mean an apparent change in the position of an object resulting from a change in position of the observer. A good example is two people in different location in the world viewing a star.

I first heard of parallax in the context of viewing a gauge or dial. If you stand directly in front of it, you get a true reading. If you move a foot or two to the side, you get a different and erroneous, reading.

Whitesmith? I thought it was a joke but “What is a whitesmith” was an answer on Jeopardy recent. And you know, if it was on Jeopardy, it has to be true.

We have all heard of blacksmiths, the village blacksmith in olden days, etc. I must admit that whitesmith was not a term I have ever heard.

A whitesmith works with light-colored or “white” metals. These include tin and pewter. A whitesmith usually does not work with hot metals, like a blacksmith does. They work with unheated metal but may heat it occasionally to shape it the way they desire.

Items that might be produced by a whitesmith include (tin or pewter) cups, pitchers, silverware and candle holders to name a few.